According to Mr Michael Rawlinson of Liberum Capital, Rio Tinto could employ extreme defence strategies against the takeover bid of BHP Billiton.

Mr Rawlinson said that Rio obviously felt that the AUD 170 billion scrip bid did not adequately value the company. He said that its present public defense plan was education and its disposal program.

He added that if BHP received antitrust clearance for the bid, Rio would pursue other strategies, which could include the many other proposals that it had received.